I am a firm believer in stretch goals that require you to step beyond your comfort zone, yet I must caution that there is a fine line between stretch goals & unrealistic ones. In order to progress, we must challenge ourselves, we must push ourselves to do a little more than we think we are capable of doing, but it's also wise to do a reality check.Let's say your goal is to lose 25 pounds by a certain date and a part of your plan is to exercise an hour a day 5 days a week. Is this a stretch goal or an unrealistic one? Let's ask some questions to find out:

Does your current schedule allow for 1 hr of exercise a day?

If not, are you prepared to give up something in another area of your life to get that 1 hr?

If that doesn't seem possible or likely, your stretch might be 30 minutes!Why set a goal where your chances of succeeding are slim? And then feel guilt and shame when you miss the mark? Wouldn't you rather feel the exhilaration of succeeding every single day?Goals should be comfortably uncomfortable, not a source of stress and anxiety. To set yourself up for success - think stretch.